Sports news from Los Angeles and beyond

NFL won't fine Jim Harbaugh or Jim Schwartz

October 17, 2011 | 4:18
pm

The NFL will not fine San Francisco 49ers Coach Jim Harbaugh or Detroit Lions Coach Jim Schwartz for their incident after Sunday's victory by the 49ers.

"Fortunately, there was no fighting and thus no basis for a fine," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said. "However, both coaches told [NFL vice president of football operations] Ray Anderson today that their postgame conduct was wrong and will not happen again. We believe their response is the correct one and that their postgame conduct going forward will be more appropriate."

The NFL passing up the chance to fine someone? Amazing.

Both coaches offered apologies for their actions after the incident.

"That is totally on me," Harbaugh said. "I shook his hand too hard. I really went in, and it was a strong, kind of a slap-grab handshake."

"It's unfortunate," Schwartz told reporters. "The game is played by the players on the field. We certainly don't want things like that to occur. There are competitive people in the league, and I think we need to do a better job of just leaving it to the players on the field."